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Europe cuts back on Russian oil purchases by 20% due to poor quality
Europe continues to cut back on its oil purchases from Russia due to the dropping quality of the Urals variety.
At the end of January-May, shipments to the EU through the primary ports of export fell by double-digit figures, Transneft vice president Sergey Andronov told Vedomosti.
European clients bought 24% less from Primorsk than last year (16.1 million tons). Shipments out of Novorossiysk fell by 17% (to 7.7 million tons), and shipments from Ust-Luga by 26%.
Only the export volumes to …
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Russia's Gazprom to build pipeline through North Korea
Another Russian pipeline to Asia, announced by billionaire and major Gazprom contractor Gennady Timchenko in May, will pass through North Korea.
Gazprom, which is already engaged in the construction of gas pipelines to Turkey, the EU and China with a total cost of $25 billion, is negotiating a new construction project with South Korea, Gazprom deputy chairman Vitaly Markelov announced on Friday.
The project in question was mentioned in a memorandum with the South Korean company Cogas in 2008, …
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Tensions flare between Russian and Iranian forces in Syria
Tensions between Russian and Iranian forces have started to spread to the Syrian army.
Russia, which wants members of Hezbollah and Iranian troops to withdraw from the Golan Heights, is not happy with the fact that not all have left the area, reports the blog bmpd.
It has been noted that some Shiite units have begun wearing Syrian army uniforms and have continued the hostilities. Specifically, they have donned the uniforms of the 4th Panzer Division, which is under the command of Maher Assad, …
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Ukrainian Security Service demands Ukrainian Internet providers block 181 sites
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has sent a letter to Internet providers requiring the blocking of 181 websites on the country’s territory. Strana, which has obtained a copy of the corresponding official document, has reported on this.
The list includes websites from the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, web pages created for the Crimean authorities, many Russian news agencies, and all sub-domains of the payment service Webmoney. It also includes the largest Russian information site, ria.ru ( …
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Deripaska’s company Rusal asks Kremlin to provide concessions for transport tariffs as US sanctions take effect
Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s company, UC Rusal, requested through Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to reduce costs for transportation of raw materials and finished products by rail, the Kommersant newspaper reports.
According to the sources cited in the newspaper, Rusal asked to reduce tariffs of the Russian Railways company for transportation of raw materials and products, which was estimated by the company to be worth around 24 billion rubles (380 million dollars) from July 1. …